LEADERS of the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League first division Brixham Sharks, without a fixture this week, saw both Halwell and Newton Abbot Buzzards close the gap at the top, reports Tony Halse.

Halwell, in second spot, shared the points with NA Ravens, whose Stephen Hugh secured a fine maximum.

Kevin Nicholls and Herbie Sage were unbeaten as NA Buzzards, having played a game fewer than the Sharks and Halwell, defeated a busy NA Ravens’ side 9-1 and are just five points from the top of the table.

The only second division match was an all-Newton Abbot affair with the Raptors defeating the Falcons 7-3 with the help of an excellent Martin Dilkes maximum.

The results continue to be close in a tight, well-contested third division.

Two Richard Hathaway maximums helped NA Kestrels defeat the Taverners 7-3 and then Torbay Academy 4 by the same scoreline. Taverners, catching up with their fixtures, shared the points with Torre Spartans, whose Robert Excell was unbeaten but then lost out to Torbay Academy 5, 7-3, Jamie McGuire with a maximum for the Academy side.

NA Merlins have climbed to the top of the fourth division following two victories this week. In a close tussle with Teignmouth Delinquents, a Doug Morgan maximum helped the Merlins edge it 6-4.

Both Doug Morgan and Dominic Ozuna-Montero were unbeaten as the Merlins went on to beat clubmates NA Vultures 8-2. A fine all-round effort from Torbay Academy 6 saw them narrowly defeat NA Ospreys despite a maximum from the Ospreys’ Ken Ramsden.

FULL RESULTS

Division One

Halwell 5 (Sugden 2, Wadling 1, Mercer 1, Dbls) Newton Abbot Ravens 5 (Hugh 3, Nash 2, Symons 0)

Newton Abbot Ravens 1 (Hugh 1, Malin 0, Symons 0) Newton Abbot Buzzards 9 (Nicholls 3, Sage 3, Ryland 2, Dbls)

Division Two

Newton Abbot Falcons 3 (Tyler 2, Banerji 1, Dunn 0) Newton Abbot Raptors 7 (Dilkes 3, Darch 2, Haslam 1, Dbls)

Division Three

Newton Abbot Kestrels 7 (Hathaway 3, Doxsey 2, Williams 1, Dbls) Taverners 3 (Harrop 2, Kashap 1, Read 0)

Taverners 3 (Harrop 2, Read 1, Kashap 0) Torbay Academy (5) 7 (McGuire 3, Treder 2, Adamczak 1, Dbls)

Taverners 5 (Kashap 2, Harrop 1, Read 1, Dbls) Torre Spartans 5 (Excell 3, Lavery 2, Sadler 0)

Newton Abbot Kestrels 7 (Hathaway 3, Williams 2, Wakefield 2) Torbay Academy (4) 3 (Southgate 2, James 0, Payne 0, Dbls)

Division Four

Newton Abbot Merlins 6 (Morgan 3, Olver 2, Stratton 1) Teignmouth Delinquents 4 (Boatman 2, Northcott 1, Curl 0, Dbls)

Newton Abbot Vultures 2 (Jewell 1, Fabian 1, Gilbert 0) Newton Abbot Merlins 8 (Morgan 3, Ozuna-Montero 3, Stratton 1, Dbls)

Newton Abbot Ospreys 4 (Ramsden 3, Ferguson 0, Dulling 0, Dbls) Torbay Academy (6) (Jewell 2, Pilloni 2, Neafcy 2)

Pictured are Rob Williams, Richard Hathaway and Fred Wakefield of the Newton Abbot Kestrels and Eve James, Aaron Southgate and Kevin Payne of Torbay Academy 4.